Eternal Refuge

For the final post of my60th I am sharing these photos of my trip to Montacute House. I have been a few times but it is one of those houses that draw me back there again. This day was spent with Christine, and we gor good weather -








A close-up of one of the many statues at roof level -




The Library -





The main hall -

On my actual 60th about 10 days ago now, I had plans for mid afternoon onwards ... but nothing before that. So I decided to walk into Exeter, had a MacD's (my first in ages!), and then walked round the museum, and spent some time in the Cathedral.

The Royal Albert Museum is a confused place ... lots of exhibits, but some very unusual groupings. With Covid there is a one way system ... but I still managed to get lost!

I do love the Cathedral ... starated in 1107, and finished by 1400 (and survived the bombings of WWII). It is a stunning building with the longest uninterrupted medieval vaulted ceiling in the world, at about 96 m (315 ft).[5]



The Royal Albert Museum ... Prince Albert, in the main hall







See what I mean about random collections -

Those hands are huge -

Made for the museum -



Love this glass jug, made in AD 100  (Exeter was under Roman occupation)



The Cathedral -

The 18-metre-high (59 ft) bishop's throne in the choir was made from Devon oak between 1312 and 1316;





The long nave -





The minstrels' gallery in the nave dates to around 1360 and is unique in English cathedrals

LOL - I have had the most amazing week of celebrations for My 60th ... a truly lovely time.  However what with one thing & another I haven't been around for a couple of days ... and am only here briefly as I have lots of photos to sort out, and then I will share some with you.

But, this is one that was taken on the actual day when I met my sister-in-law for afternoon tea ... well, in the end we had an Eton Mess, and a glass of cider!  Really a nice way to celebrate - back to theirs for a steak dinner, as well.  So they really did spoil me!

Yesterday I met with my friend Christine and we went to a National Trust ... it was so nice to be doing that again, although a couple of the rooms were closed, it was still lovely.

Today I had a late morning, then went to the shops, before a late lunch before heading upstaires to turn on the pc.  Now I have photos to sort, and edit .... but before I go -


24. Are you more of a visual learner or an auditory learner?
I like to listen, but make notes while I do

25. Which of your good habits has made the biggest positive difference in your life?
MMmmmm - don't know

26. What is your favorite tea brand?
I drink strong white tea, usually a cheepo brand, but in an evening I tend to have "Yorkshire" T

27. What's a hobby you've been thinking about starting?
I need to get back to the ones that I already do - my chronic fatigue is scrambling my brain too much!

I had a really super weekend - I had been a bit concerned as to how much the boys would be around (with football on TV!!), and Nick can be variable in temper.

However - it was truly special.

The only problem was all the decorations, as you can see -


Tim & Claire arrived about an hour after I did ... and then it was lunchtime.  Just before we started eating Brenda commented how lovely it was to all be together.  I think the Pandemic worked in my favour, as well all enjoyed actually being together ... it was over 2 years since that had happened, and 18 months since I had seen them.

Both Nick & Brenda are great cooks, so the food was as lovely as the company -






After lunch all but Nick, and Joe went for a walk.  It was warmish, but dry (the rain just started as we got back home).  We were out for about an hour, and it was lovely  for all of us, although Ollie managed to lose his ball!





Once back it was time for cake.  Andrew's fiancee Jess made a lovely lemon cake





After that Nick had done a wordsearch of 40 words about me ... trouble was he hadn't said what the words were to make it a challenge.  Put it this way, I only found 30 of them.  He had a couple of dogs, one of my horses, a few hobbies ... and James' name, to list a few.



Then it was tea time - Chicken Lasagne, baked potatoes etc, followed by cheesecake and strawberries ... more yum.  After tea I had my phot taken with everyone, which was nice.


Tim (L) and Nick (R), my baby brothers

Claire (L) and Brenda (R)




Andrew, Dan, Tom & Joe

After that Brenda had asked me to take a few photos from over the years, and we all had some laughs .... especially Jess & Meghan (Dan's girlfriend) of the boys at my 40th & 50th birthdays.

The we had another quiz ... complete with 60 questions.  Brenda & I won as we got 20!  Some of them were either/or answers, and most guessed wrong!

By now it was about 11, so T&C headed off to their B&B, and the rest of us headed for bed.  Andrew had donated his bed even though I said he didn't need to.  So by now I was over-tired, but still couldn't sleep as the adrenalin was still running!

Still, Sunday came ... and Brenda, Andrew, Jess & I went to Church (Nick stayed at home to see on You Tube) and we met Tim & Claire there.It was so lovely to actually go to Church - 15 months since my last time, as it's normally on You Tube for us.

Then back home for Sunday lunch ... roast lamb.  It was just the 9 of us, and lots of chat ... mostly teasing Andrew about the upcoming wedding plans.

As the meal finished I decided I needed to head home as I was really tired, and knew I had a journey in rain to do.  So we left Nick to the rest of Father's Day and the 3 of us headed home ... arriving here about 5 pm.

A truly special weekend.